Stove drawer track



Feb. 19, 1952 A. ZALTZMAN STOVE DRAWER TRACK Filed July 19. 1947 Patented Feb. 19, 1952 s'rovE DRAWER TRACK Arthur Zaltzman, Chicago, Ill., assignor to Cribben and Sexton Company, Chicago, 111., a corporation of Illinois Application July 19, 1947, Serial No..762,106

1 Claim. 1

This invention relates to a stove drawer track and more particularly to track mechanism for supporting a broiler drawer or other range drawer within a compartment of a range, the track permitting withdrawal of the drawer from the range.

Telescoping track members for supporting a broiler drawer or other drawer within a range compartment are unsatisfactory because of the tendency of the structure to tilt or shift during the movement of the drawer to extreme positions. A simple structure which will provide anti-friction supporting means for the drawer, while at the same time overcoming such tilting or wabbling action, has been greatly in demand.

An object of the present invention is to provide an improvement in track structures for ranges, in which extremely simple means are provided for reducing the friction of the parts, while at the same time providing a solidity and smoothness in operation not afforded by prior devices. Yet, another object is to provide a track structure for supporting drawers within a range, in which structures balls are freely mounted for running movement within tracks and in combination with roller bearings therefor. Other specific objects and advantages will appear as the specification proceeds.

The invention is illustrated, in a single embodiment, by the accompanying drawing, in which- Figure 1 is a broken side view in elevation of the track structure embodying my invention, the track members being shown in extended position; Fig. 2, a broken side view in elevation of the track structure shown in position within the drawer; and Fig. 3, a vertical sectional view, the section being taken as indicated at line 3 of Fig. 2.

In the illustration given, It designates a portion of the range casing, which provides a broiler compartment, and in the lower portion thereof provides a support for the drawer tracks.

Within the compartment of the range and secured to each side wall thereof is a stationary drawer track II. The drawer track H carries the rollers l2 and [3, as shown more clearly in Figs. 1 and 3.

Slideably mounted between rollers l2 and I3 is a floating track member M, as shown more clearly in Fig. 3. The floating track member is provided at its bottom with a channel portion [5 providing a trough for freely receiving the balls l6. Stop lugs I! are struck from the outer wall of the member l4 and turned inwardly to provide stops for the balls l6, as shown more clearly in Figs. 1 and 2.

A body extension l8, which is part of the drawer itself, is assembled to the body track member having an extending flange or bearing is, which rests upon the balls Hi. It will be noted that the bearing I9 is riveted to the memher If; and extends longitudinally of the body extension la. The door 2 O of the drawer is secured to the forward end of the member [8.

With the structure shown, it will be noted that there are two stationary tracks H on opposite walls of the compartment and that a floating track hi is carried by each of the stationary tracks ii. Further, the two body tracks I9 carried by the floating tracks l4, by means of the balls and bearings shown, in turn support the drawer door and drawer body.

The usual inter-engaging elements are carried by the body tracks is and the floating tracks M to cause them to move successively in the operation of the track members.

Operation In the operation of the track members, as the drawer is pulled out, the body tracks l9 roll on the free floating balls 16. When the first portion of the pull-out is complete, two cars engage the floating tracks and they move out rolling on the ball bearing rollers. Their outer position is controlled by cars which engage the stationary tracks and the drawer movement then ceases. As the drawer is pushed in, the body tracks ride in on the balls until they engage the floating tracks, and then the floating tracks ride in to the closed position on the rollers l2 and 13 of the stationary tracks H.

The design allows for the shift in weight as the drawer is pulled out. Thus, at the time the floating track is engaged, the weight shift takes place and the floating track rides between the ball bearing rollers. During the push-in movement, the reverse shift takes place.

In all of the above operations, the free balls l6 roll along their channels and prevent catching or tilting of the drawer-supporting elements. Should the drawer move slightly sidewise, the balls l6 readily permit this movement without any tilting action, while at the same time they run smoothly in their longitudinal course along their channels to effect the in and out movement of the drawer. Thus, it will be noted that the free ball structure is effective, by reason of its ability to move slightly laterally and with a full forward and backward movement, for supporting the drawer always in an even position and without any tendency of the supporting elements to jam or catch during their inward and outward movements.

The free ball and bearing structures are extremely simple, taking up a minimum of space in the track arrangement and providing an extremely sturdy supporting structure. Under varying temperature conditions, the free ball arrangement operates equally well.

The body tracks [8 and the floating tracks 14 may be equipped with any type of ears for limiting the movement of the two types of tracks. In the specific illustration given, the floating tracks l4 are provided with upwardly-extending lugs or cars 2| in spaced relation, and the body tracks 18 are provided with a single laterally-extending ear 2|, which is limited in movement between the first two ears 2!. Such structure may be varied widely as desired.

While in the foregoing specification, I have set forth certain specific arrangements in detain for the purpose of illustrating the invention, it will be understood that such details of struc ture may be varied widely by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of my invention.

I claim:

In a range equipped with spaced compartment wallsextending rearwardly from a compartment opening in the front of said range, a pair of rollers carried by the front portion of each of said walls in vertically-spaced relation, the lower roller of each pair being adjacent said compartment opening and the upper roller of each pair being spaced inwardly from said opening, floating tracks slidably mounted between said rollers and supported thereby in a horizontal plane, each of said floating tracks having a channel bottom and having a laterally-extending upper portion equipped at its end with a vertical flange, balls freely supported by said channel bottoms and spaced from said laterally-extending upper portion of the floating track, body tracks slidably mounted in said floating tracks, and a drawer extending between said body tracks and rigidly secured thereto, said drawer being provided with a 5 laterally-extending flange enclosing said vertical flange of each floating track and said body tracks having a laterally-extending U-shaped flange with spaced-apart legs, the lower leg of which rests upon said balls with the upper leg thereof in close spaced-apart relation to the laterallyextending portion of said floating tracks when said drawer has its center of gravity within said compartment, whereby, when said drawer is pulled outwardly it travels freely on said balls until its center of gravity passes over the lower rollers adjacent said compartment opening, whereupon the projecting portion of said drawer tips downwardly and causes the upper legs of said U-shaped flanges to frictionally engage the laterally-extending portions of said floating tracks, and thereafter said drawer travels outwardly on said rollers.

ARTHUR ZALTZMAN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,135,235 Weiss Apr. 13, 1915 1,676,991 Bergmann July 10, 1928 1,754,448 Vaaler Apr. 15, 1930 i 1,938,908 Hunter Dec. 12, 1933 1,963,220 Anderson June 19, 1934 1,981,246 Pipe Nov. 20, 1934 2,346,167 Jones et al. Apr. 11, 1944 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 758,423 France Nov. 3, 1933 

